Russia positions itself on Western Sahara – La Nouvelle Tribune

The France strengthens its diplomatic support for Morocco on the question of Sahara occidentalconsidering the autonomy plan proposed by Rabat as a credible and serious solution. This French position, which consolidates Franco-Moroccan relations, comes at a time when Russia is increasing its economic actions in the region, particularly in the strategic fishing sector.

A new geopolitical situation in the Saharan waters

Moscow asserts its presence in the territorial waters of Sahara occidentaltaking advantage of the void left by theEuropean Union. The Russian Federal Fisheries Agency has already distributed fishing quotas in this area, while Brussels is still struggling to analyze the recent decisions of the European Court of Justice. These judgments, rendered in October, exclude Sahara products from agreements concluded with the Moroccocreating an opportunity that Russia quickly seizes.

Fishing as a lever of influence

The encouraging results of the research carried out by the ship Atlantean last October open new perspectives for Russian-Moroccan cooperation. Fish stocks considered satisfactory make it possible to envisage an increase in catches. Russian companies thus obtain authorization to fish up to 10,000 tonnes of pelagic fish, mainly sardines, in a maritime area deserted by European trawlers since July 2023.

A silence revealing regional tensions

The extension of the Russian-Moroccan fishing agreement until the end of 2024, as well as the new distribution of quotas, did not provoke any official reaction from the Front Polisario nor of Algeria. This lack of protest contrasts with their usual positions on the sovereignty of the Sahara occidentalsuggesting a reconfiguration of the balance of power in the region. The strengthening of economic ties between Moscow and Rabat could lastingly modify regional balances, whileEuropean Union is gradually losing its influence in this strategic area of ​​the African continent.